Breaking News: The deadline has been extended to June 19, 2009 to allow students to complete exams and graduation. Good luck students! Remember, to send your entry by the close of business June 19, 2009

The Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is hosting a second student paper competition during Spring Semester 2009. A summary of the competition is contained in the following document: Student Paper Competition #2

The competition is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

The topic areas for the second competition are (click above for PDF download):

• Innovative Project Funding
• Alternative Fuel Production
• Rideshare Marketing

Undergraduate, graduate and student groups are welcome to participate. Student groups must dedicate a group leader to enter under his/her name. All entries are due to Mark McCaskill by June 19, 2009. Please mail hard copy to:

Student Paper Competition #2, RVARC, PO Box 2569, Roanoke VA, 24010

 

Original Student Paper Contest #1 "Scenario Planning" Winners Announced: February 18, 2008

The top 3 papers, as reviewed by a panel of 7 judges, were:

1) "Scenario-Based Planning with a Survey of Roanoke Region Impacts of Statewide Multimodal Transportation Policies" - University of Virginia

2) "Using Survey Data to Assist RVAMPO with Long-Range Transportation Planning: An Exploratory Study of the Effects of Age on Transportation Demand." - George Mason University

3) "Logistics Influence on Roanoke Transportation in 2020" - Virginia Tech

Thank you to all who participated. An awards ceremony will take place at the March 2008 RVAMPO meeting. (1:30 pm March 27, 2008 RVARC Conference Room)

Interested students across a host of academic disciplines have an opportunity to take part in the regional planning process and a chance at a cash prize of up to $1,000. The Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is sponsoring a student paper competition open to all local undergraduate and graduate students, with prizes of $1,000, $400, and $100 for first, second, and third place. Submitted papers can address a variety of planning issues that could impact the regional transportation system, from environmental quality, the impact of immigration on population estimates, accessibility and options for an aging population, and other topics.

The competition involves a process called Scenario Planning, which takes a collection of assumptions about one or more population, demographic, technological and environmental trends and plans for the long-term impact of these trends. These Scenarios are incorporated into the long-range planning process, providing guidance to local governments and state agencies. One of the MPO’s most recent plans, for example, looked at retiring Baby Boomers and tackled their impact on transportation, housing, and even volunteerism in the Roanoke area.

Students are asked to either create scenarios based on the current assumptions, or to challenge those assumptions and create what-if scenarios based on revised data. All necessary data and existing plans can be provided by the MPO. Students need not be involved in planning or engineering coursework to qualify – Scenarios involving social and environmental sciences are also encouraged. Deadline for all entries is December 14th, with the winning submissions selected by a panel of local planners.

Prize money has been generously donated by Lanford Brothers Construction, who will also serve on the award panel.

Contest Information Packet (rules and requirements)

Audio File of Example Topics (12minute MP3 file)

Other Resources
Background Report on Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs)
Map of Roanoke Valley Area (TAZ's) (.pdf)
Traffic Analysis Zone Data (.xls)
Traffic Analysis Zones (ESRI shapefile)
Roanoke Valley Area MPO Boundary (ESRI Shapfile)
Charlottesville Area Scenario Planning Resources/Examples
Federal Highway Scenario Planning Resources

Sample Scenario for Roanoke Valley Area
This is just one example of many possible scenarios. Others could include:

• Urban and Rural village center growth patterns
• Smart Growth
• Various Economic Development Scenarios
• Natural Disaster Impacts
• Home Based Business Trends
• Future Gas Price Scenarios
• Framework for NEPA Screening of Candidate Projects
• Others

Questions? Email Us